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The UN declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, with Saturday 22 May marking the International Day of Biodiversity. Unfortunately, we’re not doing too well: as Bill Jackson, deputy director general of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), points out, “Twenty-one percent of all known mammals, 30% of all known amphibians, 12% of all known birds (and)... 27% of reef-building corals assessed... are threatened with extinction.” In other words, we risk losing — forever — one in five species of mammals, almost one in three species of amphibians, and one in eight species of birds.
What can you do? I’m leery of simple answers, but I think the key is to foster a deep and powerful love for life. Foster it in yourself and others. Show others, particularly children, just how wonderful it is. When they care enough, they’ll act.
This blog is at least in part my attempt to share what I feel about life; to show how precious and valuable it is. Because you’re here, reading it, you’ve found at least one person who cares. Please leave a comment, even if it’s just “I care too”, so I know someone else cares.
[22 May is also the the Gala Awards night marking the opening the 6th season of Reel Earth, the Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival, in Palmerston North. In keeping with the theme of this post, I’ll point you to the excellent film Call of Life, screening at 6 p.m. on Monday 24 May and again at 4 p.m. on Saturday 5 June. If you can’t get to it here, keep an eye on the website for screenings near you.]
[Click on the thumbnails to see the original posts]
All content © 2010 Pete McGregor
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6 comments:
A beautiful and moving selection of images, as well as your powerful words.
All good wishes for the film festival, and in finding huge numbers of others who care.
I've always tried, in my artwork, to inspire the viewer with the beauty and preciousness of the natural world.
I care.
Kia ora Pete,
I have nothing to add to your eloquent words. Kia kaha.
Cheers,
Robb
RR, Beadbabe, Robb — thank you.
'Call of Life' is on my list of movies to see at the Festival this year. Don't think I'll be able to make it tonight but will certainly try for the 5th.
Andrew.
I talked to a few people last night after they came out of the theatre, and they seemed pretty impressed. Like all films, it has a few flaws, but those are more than made up for by the clarity and depth of many of the explanations. So much food for thought, and although some people see it as gloomy, it in fact offers some excellent suggestions.
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